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California

Bat in Anaheim tests positive for rabies

Rabies is spread by an infected animal's bite or, in rare cases, from a scratch if an animal’s saliva penetrates the skin.
(Pascual Soriano / AFP / Getty Images)
By Leila MillerStaff Writer 

A bat found in front of an AT&T store in Anaheim last weekend has tested positive for rabies, the Orange County Health Care Agency announced Friday.

Rabies is spread by a bite from an infected animal or, in rare cases, from a scratch if an animal’s saliva penetrates the skin. Those exposed to rabies may receive a series of shots to prevent it from developing.

In a news release, officials said the bat was found at 131 E. Katella Ave. in Anaheim. It was unclear whether the bat was alive or dead when found.

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Officials warned that anyone who may have had contact with the bat should contact the agency at (714) 834-8180 so that a nurse can evaluate the risk of rabies. Over the weekend, officials said, people should call the after-hours number at (714) 834-7792 and leave a message.

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CaliforniaOrange CountyAnimals & Pets
Leila Miller

Leila Miller is a former foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. She joined the newsroom in 2018, where she spent several years covering criminal justice, including the Luz del Mundo sex abuse case, and was part of the team that was a 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist for its coverage of the Conception boat fire off the Channel Islands. She moved to Mexico in 2021 and was a 2023 Livingston finalist for an investigation on how a centuries-old forensic test has been sending mothers in Latin America to prison for killing their newborns. Born in Argentina but raised in Los Angeles, Miller is a graduate of Oberlin College and Columbia University’s School of Journalism.

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